|
|
Post by gunbunny on May 8, 2008 16:11:56 GMT -5
After discussing it in length with Dean, I've been developing a plan to build up our TJ. In order to keep as much street-ability as possible, so I can tow with it and my wife can run errands, we decided against any kind of crazy high lift. We want to use the 31" tires on it now, but not get beat up so much in the blue trails. Dean suggested using a "tummy tucker" transfer case skid plate. I looked into this, and I think I came up with a plan: www.jeepmedicfabrication.com/products%20page.htm Has a combo deal for their belly up skid and engine skid plates. They are 1/4" thick and seem to be the least of a headache to install according to several Jeep forums I visited. But, you have to start with a body and motor mount lift! A 1" lift should do, but I have some more ideas up my sleeve. Poison spyder customs has their version of rocker panel protection and a step all in one: www.spydercustoms.com/index2.php This is a nice piece of armor, but what I like most is that it combines the frame and the tub. So, if I have to get a body lift anyway, why not shave 1/4" off of the new side pucks and install the PSC ricochet rockers? Add some skid plates from www.4wd.com for the lower control arms, steering box, and gas tank, SYE kit, and a frame tie-in kit for the bumper, and I should be good to go? All of this, as Dean pointed out, can be added to with a simple 2" spring lift and I can run 33" tires if I am so inclined... What do you all think? |
|
|
|
Post by gunbunny on May 8, 2008 18:11:54 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong, nothings easy. I forgot to mention that if I was going to run 33" tires, I would have to get rid of the Dana 35 for a Dana 44. Still, it's easier than repairing a busted up TJ on the trail...
|
|
|
|
Post by krawler97 on May 8, 2008 18:56:20 GMT -5
Not to change your mind on any decisions, but I do custom fabrication. I can make any of these items for you and if you wanted to use scrap steel (don't have to, I have a supplier) you could save yourself a lot of $$. All it takes is a wire wheel to clean it up, it's not pitted. I can send you some pics of previous projects if your interested. Just thought I'd give you another option.
Dean, where's the love??
|
|
|
|
Post by dean on May 8, 2008 20:39:49 GMT -5
lol... no worries mike. i was actually going to try and connect with you one of these days to discuss some ideas.
|
|
|
|
Post by gunbunny on May 8, 2008 22:25:42 GMT -5
Just thought I'd give you another option. Sure, give me some ideas or pictures, I'm open to anything as long as it's still in the ballpark of our original criteria. That is: to make the TJ better on the trails without bashing it all to hell, as easily (read cheaply and/or least amount of wrenching) as possible, and still have the street-ability that it has now. I guess I'm limited to 31" tires at the moment, since nobody's throwing a TJ D44 at me. Our jeep did good at Rausch Creek the other weekend, but it wouldn't be able to do that over the entire summer without something breaking. We just want a jeep that's bulletproof on the green/blue trails, yet tow and haul groceries without a problem. |
|
|
|
Post by krawler97 on May 9, 2008 10:22:02 GMT -5
Give me your e-mail and I'll send you some pics, as far as your criteria, you tell me what you want and I will make it. As far as wrenching theres nothing to bolt on items, I have a few jigs for TJ's plus if I don't have one I can work off of mine so they will be an exact fit unless your jeep is already twisted and bent. I don't have any pictures of rocker guards our computer got hit with lightning last summer and I lost a majority of my pics but I do have a pic of a belly pan, it's not what your looking for but I think the one on my tj is what you want, 0 clearance. Your CA skids, a couple bucks and I'll weld them in place for you, 1/4", 3/8", what ever your looking for. I have a 50 ton press so I can bend up to 1/2" plate to your specs.
By the way about your motor mounts I have curries on mine and you will have to cut most of your fan shroud out, they don't tell you that. Unless you feel like making mounts to lift your radiator. I cut mine out and have no problems with overheating and I beat the sh!t outta my rig.
If you want some other ideas bring your rig by and we can talk, If your looking to stay cheap, probably what you have listed is good for now. Although, sometime down the road I would look into investing in diff guards also. About the PS rocker guards it's your call but I would go with something a little different if your looking for something cheaper, I can't bend plate that wide so I would have to have my supplier bend them (added cost), but if you went with frame mounted rails (square or round tubing 1/4") it would be cheaper and still look good. If your worried about your body lift, not a problem I can make mounts where they mount on top of your frame rails so they are even with your rocker panels. I will talk to you more about them if your interested, you almost need to be shown visually what I'm talking about.
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by krawler97 on May 9, 2008 10:48:33 GMT -5
They would look similar to this, or you can go with smaller tubing and have 2 of them on one side with a 1" space between them and of course have approach and departure angles. Just a thought, still provides a step.  |
|
|
|
Post by gunbunny on May 9, 2008 20:04:36 GMT -5
Krawler 97, email sent. I also read that Rancho's 2 1/2" rockcrawler lift is pretty complete and won't take too much to install. Just a one time high cost of the kit, unlike a bunch of little costly items. I don't know if that would help me or not, because I want to stay with my 31" tires. But that's the nice thing about this forum, we can share information. Eventually I'll make a decision, and I'm sure it will be long before I get my economic stimulus money!
|
|
|
|
Post by krawler97 on May 10, 2008 12:36:43 GMT -5
There's not too much to lift kits 3" and under. I would not spend an ouotrageous amount of $$ on a smaller lift. Infact a 2 1/2" lift should not need dropped pitman arm, upper control arms, wouldn't even really need extended brake lines, TB mounts should be dropped slightly, etc, etc. Anyways, point being, don't spend too much on a small lift, they're all pretty much the same, my only suggestion would be get good shocks.
By the way, Chad installed a 4" lift on his rig and still has 31's. Doesn't look too bad, would be nicer with 33's but definately does not look bad. So I would say you don't have to worry with a 2" lift, infact you probably won't notice that much of a difference with a smaller lift at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by dean on May 11, 2008 8:08:53 GMT -5
when i did the 4wd 2" kit on nikki's jeep it was nothing more than 4 springs and 4 shocks. she already had JKS quicker disconnects, so we spun them out a little to make them longer.
when i ordered my kit i did it all for under $600 and that was including a new bushing kit for all the control arms and swap bar. your jeep shouldn't need that, so you can take that $150 and throw it towards a steering box skit (probably the most important one to get right away)
|
|
